The UW Polo Club team hosted their annual Badger State Polo Cup on Saturday at the Alliant Energy Center to help fundraise for their club and the Wisconsin Large Animal Emergency Response (WLAER).
“It’s a lot of fun. It’s a little chaotic,” said Lauren Alderman, a former member of the UW Polo Club team, also the team veterinarian. “Some people compare it to hockey on horseback. There is a lot of contact, you get to hit the ball hard.”
The game is played by periods, or known as “chukkas” of seven and half minutes.
“I used to ride, and I would get bored, just riding in circles,” said Amy James, manager of the UW Polo Club. “I like that there is a goal in polo. There is a competitive feel to it for me.”
Wisconsin competed against members of a polo team from Sioux Falls, SD on Saturday to showcase the sports in front of an on hand crowd.
“We’re doing a polo game to benefit the UW Polo Club, as well as Wisconsin Large Animal Emergency Response,” said Lindsey Samuelsen, a member of the UW team. “Basically it’s a fund raiser for two non profits. This is the biggest fundraiser event of the year for us.”
For more information on the UW Polo Club visit their Facebook page, here.